ESPN projects significant regression for Oregon Ducks in 2025
Going into 2025, however, there are numerous changes in Eugene.
The Ducks return just four total starters from that 2024 team and will rely on a long list of young and unproven players to lead the way. While there are some questions about who will take over as the biggest difference-makers on Oregon's roster, the team still has high expectations with the season just a couple of weeks away, ranked as the No. 7 team in the nation in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
However, ESPN thinks that there could be some regression this season due to the influx of new talent and the lack of returning production. According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, Oregon's SP+ rating has decreased by 3.7 points this year.
"The Ducks are 115th in returning production, 125th on offense. We'll find out just how healthy Dan Lanning's program is this season with that amount of turnover," Connelly writes.
While there might be a lot of new faces on the field for the Ducks this season, the level of recruiting that Lanning has done in Eugene over the past few seasons has many fans excited for what's to come for the Oregon program. The Ducks have had three-straight recruiting classes ranked inside the top 10 nationally, and the roster is loaded with former 5-star and 4-star players.
Young guys like Ify Obidegwu, Dakorien Moore, Aydin Breland, Kingston Lopa, and Jeremiah McClellan may not have a lot of experience on the field. Still, they are expected to be among the best players on the roster this year, poised for major breakouts. On top of that, the Ducks hit the transfer portal hard this offseason, bringing in top-ranked guys like Dillon Thieneman, Makhi Hughes, Isaiah World, and Bear Alexander, all of whom are projected to be among the top players in the conference.
The numbers may spell "regression candidate" when examining the Ducks' roster in 2025, but the coaching and roster makeup have Oregon looking as strong as ever heading into the new season.
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